Coin-sorter



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G. M. HARGOURT.

00m SORTER. No. 326,866. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

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GUY M. HAROOURT, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

COlN-SORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,866, dated September 22, 1885. Application filed May 28, 1885. (No model) To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUY M. HARCOURT, a citizen of the, United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Sorters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient means for rapidly and accurately assorting various denominations of silver and other coin, so as to facilitate the counting thereofin banks, counting-houses, and other places where large quantities of mixed coin are handled.

To this end my invention consists of a cabinet or coin-receptacle divided horizontally by a vertical series of drawers, each of which, except the lower one, is formed with abottoin that is provided with closely-set rows of circular openings that communicate with the drawer beneath, the openings in the bottom of each drawer being smaller than those in the bottom of the next drawer above, where by the larger coins are retained in the upper drawer or drawers, while the smaller coins will pass successively through the several drawers to the bottom. Coins of various denominations and sizes, when mixed promiscuously, may thus be rapidly and accurately separated for counting, thereby effecting a considerable saving in the time and labor ordinarily expended in sorting and counting large quantities of coin.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my coin-sorter with drawers partly withdrawn, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

In the drawings, the reference-numeral l designates a cabinet of any convenient size and form. This cabinet is divided horizontally by a vertical series of drawers, 2 3 4, that rest upon ledges 5 5 within the cabinet. These drawers, except the bottom one, are provided with perforated bottoms adapted to retain coins of a certain diameter, and permit all smaller coins to pass through to the drawer or drawers beneath, thus separating or assorting the various-sized coins that are placed into the upper drawer through the open top of the cabinet. The circular openings 6 6 for the passage of coins are arranged in close parallel lines, so as to occupy nearly the entire area of the drawer-bottom, and thus insure the ready and rapid separation or sifting of the several denominations of coins.

It will be understood, of course, that the openings in any one drawer are all of one size or diameter, and thatthe sizes of the openings in the respective drawers are so graded or arranged as to obstruct the passage of coins of a larger diameter, while permitting coins of a smaller diameter to pass through to the next lower drawer, and so on. Thus in a cabinet arranged for assorting silver coin of all the various denominations the top drawer will be provided with circular openings sufficiently large to permit the passage of all silver coins except dollars. The next drawer below will have openings to permit the passage of all silver coins except half-dollars, and so on to the bottom. in which the small coins only are received. This bottom drawer, therefore, does not require a perforated bottom.

For ordinary use the cabinet may be made with only three drawers, as shown in the drawings, in which case the bottom drawer will receive quarter-dollars and all smaller denominations; and the contents of this bottom drawer in that event can be afterward assorted, if necessary, in a cabinet having drawers provided with smaller openings than those required for sorting dollars, halves, and quarters. If desired, however, the cabinet may be made of a height sufficient to accommodate a series of four or more drawers having properly-graded openings, by which all the denominations of silver coin can be assorted at one time. It is also obvious that with a cabinet made to hold only three drawers at one time there can be provided two or more sets of drawers having openings diiferently graded, so that either set of drawers can be used as required, according to the character of the coin to be sorted.

From the foregoing the manner of using my coin-sorter will be apparent. After a proper set of drawers have been placed in position the mixed coin is thrown into the top drawer through the open top of the cabinet. By now shaking the cabinet, so as to agitate the coin in the top drawer, all the small coin will pass successively into and through the next lower drawer or drawers to the bottom one, the various denominations being thus rapidly assorted, so that, for instance, the top drawer will contain only silver dollars, the next drawer halfdollars, the next drawer below qu arter-dollars, and so on to the bottom drawer, if more than three are employed, the last or lower drawer containing only the smaller coin. The same principle can also be applied in a cabinet arranged for sorting gold coin. The open top of the cabinet can be closed, if desired, by any suitable cover, either arranged with a hinge or adapted to slide on and off, and the various drawers maybe provided with any suitable fastenings.

What I claim is- 1. In a coin-sorter, the combination of a cabinet, a close-bottomed drawer arranged in the lower part of said cabinet, and a series of drawers with'perforated bottoms graded to assort coins of different denominations, and arranged one above another within said cabinet, substantially as described.

2. In a coin-sorter, the combination of a cabinet having a top opening, and provided with horizontal ledges 5, a close-bottomed drawer placed in the lower part of said cabinet, and a series of drawers provided with graded openings 6, and arranged successively above the lower close-bottomed drawer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUY 1VL HARGOUBT.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. LAWSON, R. JOHNSON. 

